Riot police in France faced significant unrest as demonstrations by students demanding increased education funding escalated into violent clashes across several cities. On the most intense day of protests yet, officers dismantled burning barricades and confronted demonstrators who threw projectiles in locations including Lyon, where police deployed tear gas in response.

The nationwide protests began last month and have included blockades of high schools, with participants calling attention to what they describe as growing disparities between social classes. In Strasbourg, high school graduate Hugo Vetzel expressed frustration over perceived inequality, stating there is a “gap between the elites and us.”

Demonstrations took place in multiple cities, including Paris, where marches were organized to amplify demands for more investment in the education sector. Authorities have reported a total of approximately 6,100 arrests since the protests started, with injuries sustained by both law enforcement personnel—around 930 officers—and protest participants, predominantly teenagers.

The ongoing unrest underscores deep-seated tensions regarding education policy and social equity in France, with students continuing to mobilize amid heightened security measures and government efforts to contain the demonstrations.